Second-year Specialist Michael McCullough is no stranger to living on his toes. Serving in the Army National Guard since 2003, McCullough has seen more than his fair share of high intensity situations when stationed in Iraq for one year in combat.In November 2004, McCullough was stationed in Philadelphia, his residence, when he received news of his eventual departure to Iraq with the A Troop 1/104 Cavalry. McCullough was officially a replacement for any soldier who was injured, but due to the fact that another quadrant needed soldiers, McCullough was chosen.
In January 2005, McCullough began a six-month training period at Camp Shelby located in Mississippi. This was followed by another month at the National Training Center in California. This particular venue, according to McCullough, strongly resembled the conditions of Iraq. Temperatures rose to 110 degrees and there were instances of sand storms. During the traveling time, McCullough and the other soldiers traveled in buses enclosed with curtains so that people did not know soldiers were present.
In July 2006, McCullough reached Ramadi, which is west of Baghdad. Here, he maintained the condition of the operation vehicles. He described Ramadi as “the most hostile zone in Iraq.”
“I definitely had to grow up fast,” McCullough said.
Having rockets and mortars flying in the area during his first week was an eye-opener, to say the least.
“I probably haven’t been more scared in my life,” McCullough said.
In fact, during his first week in Iraq, McCullough experienced one of the most terrifying experiences in his time there. He was working in an office to repair vehicles when he heard a noise from a rocket. He instinctively put on his helmet and crawled underneath a desk. It turns out the rocket had landed only 20 to 30 feet away from the building in which McCullough was working. Such sneak attacks have become a looming conern for soldiers.
“Your reflexes are so heightened,” McCullough said.
If a person is immature, McCullough said, “[he or she] can’t really make it in the military.”
Additionally, the conditions are not favorable for combat. McCullough said that the temperatures can reach 130 degrees, and furthermore, it rained seven out of the 12 months he was stationed there. The severity of the sand storms actually masked the visibility of the sky at points.
“It was a really crazy place,” McCullough said.
Another instance concerned McCullough in an open area, the motor pool, where vehicles waited to be repaired. McCullough was walking and heard a hissing sound. McCullough said that there are only two types of hissing sounds which resonate with soldiers: a snake and a passing bullet. A snake was neither visible nor present. McCullough then went to regain his cool.
“If it [the bullet] had been on target, I could have been dead or seriously injured.”
McCullough describes this experience as his closest encounter to death.
“You really have to go there and realize you could die,” McCullough said.
McCullough said, however, an institution in the military is the idea of camaraderie. McCullough explained that when a person enlists and is in combat, the buddy system is established for a considerable number of aspects such as eating, doing laundry and especially traveling.
McCullough said that instilling the idea of having a buddy becomes even more important in combat.
“There’s nothing that a good soldier wouldn’t do for their buddy,” McCullough said.
Moreover, McCullough explained the idea of a draft in military contexts. He said that a draft is detrimental because placing people who did not voluntarily select to be there only complicates the situation for those who made the choice to be there. “I knew exactly what I was getting into when I signed up,” McCullough said.
Additionally, McCullough said that for those who oppose the war, they should reconsider with whom they are adverse.
“People criticize decisions made by politicians regarding war,” McCullough said. “They should support the soldiers for their right to [criticize].”
However, McCullough said that he receives support from others.
“That makes it worth it,” McCullough said. “Knowing that people care.”
Nicole Fortuna is a second-year student of the majoring in English with a minor in linguistics. She can be reached at NF626790@wcupa.edu.